News

2006

News: Analysis Phase [2006]

Gelatinous zooplankton
A group of international experts met in Bergen in October to analyse and study the large MAR-ECO / Bergen Museum gelatinous plankton collection. [28.11.2006]

Finland
"Deeper than Light" has been selected as Norway’s representative for the "WONDERS" finals in Finland..[10.11.2006]

Genoa report
A small portion of the “Deeper than Light” travelling exhibition travelled to Genoa to participate in a European Science Festival at the end of October 2006.[10.11.2006]

Cephalopod workshop
A group of international experts met in Bergen in early September to analyse and study the large MAR-ECO / Bergen Museum’s cephalopod collection. [29.09.2006]

MAR-ECO photographers
Two photographers associated with MAR-ECO were recently honoured in the BP Kongsberg Underwater Image Competition. [23.07.2006]

James Cook
25 August, 2006, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) took delivery of their new ship, the RRS James Cook. [10.09.2006]

“Deeper than Light” debuts in Genoa
A small portion of the “Deeper than Light” travelling exhibition will participate in a European Science Festival in Genoa at the end of October 2006.[26.09.2006]

Annual meeting
An informal report on MAR-ECO's annual meeting (2006) held in Aberdeen, Scotland. Around 50 participants attended. [16.07.2006]

Z2 workshop report
MAR-ECO Z2 workshop report from Villefranche-sur-Mer, April 2006 - by Marsh Youngbluth [26.06.2006]

Scala presentation
A group of students from Agder University College (HiA) in southern Norway recently produced a unique graduation project using MAR-ECO information and Scala software technology. [22.06.2006]

Aberdeen school visit
In early May 2006, students and teachers from Vyduno Secondary School in Klaipeda, Lithuania, a Secondary School in Pico, the Azores, met with students and teachers from Ellon Academy just outside of Aberdeen, Scotland. [01.06.2006]

Fascinated by parasites
Despite several deep-sea investigations, only a minor part of this ecosystem is known. Until now approximately 4200 deep-sea fish species are identified, from which only 10% were examined for parasitological studies. Most people detest parasites because they are only known as germs of many diseases. But they are more than that, writes two PhD-students.[27.03.06]

Bottom Fish Exploration
The biology of many deepwater fishes is still rather poorly known. Most earlier investigations concerned taxonomy and distribution, and were too often based on small samples. During the R/V “G.O.Sars” cruise in 2004 a high number of species was collected, and for many species the samples were substantial. This forms an improved basis for more advanced biological and ecological analyses.[02.05.06]

Bottom Fish Communities of the Mid-ocean Ridge
Mid-ocean ridges offer diverse living conditions to deepwater fishes. A wide depth range from the coasts of islands and shallow seamounts to the bottom of fractures at 4000m or more. And the ridges are rugged, with only minor patches of level soft-bottom in-between bare rock and mountainous terrain. [21.03.06]

What are dolphins doing along the mid-Atlantic ridge?
Student profile: Before the MAR-ECO cruise in summer 2004, almost no knowledge existed of dolphins in open ocean areas in the northern mid-Atlantic. During the cruise, the four species common dolphin, striped dolphin, white-sided dolphin and pilot whale were reported to be quite abundant along the ridge, writes MS-student Lise Doksæter.[14.03.06]

Oceans are 70% shark free
An international team of MAR-ECO researchers, led by the University of Aberdeen, have revealed that sharks have failed to colonise at depths greater than 3,000 metres, meaning that the deepest oceans of the world appear to be shark free. [27.02.06]

Coral habitats on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Deep-sea coral habitats on seamounts on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and the Azores has now been described based on video surveys using ROV and bycatch from longline and trawl on the 2004 MAR-ECO expedition. [13.03.06]

Ocean Sciences Meeting
At one of the biggest conferences in Ocean Sciences ever with more than 3000 talks and posters, MAR-ECO was well represented with a special session on "Deep-Sea Fish Diversity and Ecology in the Benthic Boundary Layer", five talks and three posters.[30.02.06]

Uncovering Secret Sex Life of Deep-Sea Nomads
- For centuries scientists have thought of deep-sea pelagic fish as nomadic wanderers. However, new results from the ongoing MAR-ECO program, have revealed that these fishes may in fact be gathering at features such as ridges or seamounts to spawn. The research has important implications for how deep-sea ecosystems should be managed to prevent devastation by deep trawling activities. [23.02.06]

More top predator tagging
Situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with many species of baleen whales swimming close to the islands, the Azores is a unique location for satellite tagging. Last week, MAR-ECO held a satellite telemetry workshop in Horta, aiming to establish a large-scale tagging-programme. [07.02.06]

Listening for marine life in the deep ocean
When observing life beneath the surface of the sea, echosounders are the “eyes” of the marine scientists. They utilize sound in much the same way as our eyes or cameras use light. Sound travels well in water and many animals reflect sound. This reflected sound, actually the echo, is recorded by the echosounders. [30.01.06]

Science, art and technology
MAR-ECO, providing fascinating stories and images of life in the depths of the Atlantic, has inspired several artists. Last week, a kick-off meeting was held - starting a cross-disciplinary collaboration on developing a computer-game and to form an international travelling exhibition. [18.01.06]

Deep ocean fever
The exhibition of moving and still images of strange animals from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, has led to a deep ocean fever among secondary school pupils in the southern part of Norway![12.01.06]

Ghost catsharks
When ghost catsharks are born, the embryos have two rows of large tooth-like denticles on their back, which the scientists believe they use to hatch themselves out of the egg capsule.[11.01.06]

DNA from shrimp diet
Using DNA-techniques, MS-student Helene Axelsen has analysed medusas in the diet of shrimp-samples from the mid-Atlantic ridge.[04.01.06]